The Building Early Learning Places Program (the program) awards funding for eligible not-for-profit organisations to undertake capital works projects and deliver additional early childhood education and care places for priority groups as outlined in the Building Early Learning Places program guidelines.

The type of projects that may be funded include:

• New builds – opening a new service on vacant land or converting an existing property (which is not an ECEC service), without closing existing ECEC services managed by the approved provider.
• Extension works – expanding the footprint of an existing ECEC service to increase places that can be offered.
• Renovation – modifications of an existing ECEC service’s site (without extending the footprint of the building) to increase ECEC places.

The program is a test and trial initiative being delivered under the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund (the Fund), aimed to help not-for-profit providers in the ECEC sector create more spaces for children aged 0 to 6 for communities with the greatest immediate need. The overarching program goal is to increase access and affordability of quality ECEC services, intended to support increased participation in the State’s workforce, particularly for women. This is a competitive and targeted grants program.

The Start Strong Capital Works Program is a separate initiative that was delivered between 2013 and 2023, which awarded grant funding to deliver additional preschool places in line with the approved Program Guidelines for that program. This program closed on 30 June 2023 and there are no further rounds announced.

Please refer to the grants and funded programs webpage  for further information on opening and closing dates for the grant round.

No. It is up to applicants to determine if they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines in order to apply. The Assessment Panel will then make a decision on the eligibility of the applications received as part of the competitive assessment process.

The decision to apply for funding rests with the applicant's organisation. Any decision to apply for a capital works grant should first be discussed with your governing body.

Important things to consider include:

• Are you currently operating or intending to operate a centre-based preschool or long day care in one of the 31 undersupplied areas?
• Are you an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation intending to deliver additional ECEC places in a community preschool or not-for-profit long day care setting in NSW?
• Do you intend to undertake capital works to create additional ECEC places for children aged 0 to 6-year-olds in a priority group?
• Do you meet the eligibility requirements?
• Is your organisation committed to managing a capital works project if you are awarded a grant, noting construction must start within 12 months if you are successful?

These questions are prompts to guide you to determine if this grant would suit your needs and capital works project. The Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines will also help you decide if you are ready to apply.

Yes. The program is a new program with its own eligibility and assessment criteria. This program is not connected in any way to previous capital works programs and applications will be assessed on the criteria set out in the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines. However, you cannot seek funding to deliver preschool places that have already been funded by other funding streams, including former capital programs delivered by the department.

Under certain circumstances, you could be eligible to apply to the Program, even if you received a capital grant under previous programs.

Only new projects not previously funded by Start Strong Capital Works program will be considered. You may be eligible to apply if your new project meets the eligibility requirements and objectives of the program.

No. This program does not fund capital works projects on public schools or non-government school sites. Public preschools are not eligible either.

No. The program only funds the creation of additional licensed places for 0-to-6-year-olds for priority groups as identified in the Program Guidelines. We encourage you to review our and other government agencies’ websites to identify other suitable opportunities that may arise.

The department delivers a number of initiatives and funded programs to ensure children have the best start in life. Each initiative has distinct objectives and intended outcomes. To meet those objectives, each program creates its own methodologies and eligibility requirements, which may vary across programs.

The Building Early Learning Places program is a test and trial initiative made possible by the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund. A targeted approach is being trialled for this program to ensure funding goes where it is needed the most. This means that only applicants who plan to provide ECEC places for priority groups as identified in the Program Guidelines will be able to apply (i.e. 31 undersupplied areas and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations in NSW operating an eligible ECEC service). Insights and lessons learned from this program will be used to guide future initiatives under the CEO Fund to allow more NSW families to access affordable and quality ECEC.

The 2 priority groups selected for this program have been identified based on the evidence provided in the early childhood education and care Independent Marketing Monitoring Review (IMMR) produced by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The review, which will be published separately, was commissioned by the Minister for Education and Early Learning under section 5(1) of the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund Act 2022 (CEOF Act) and it identifies areas with an undersupply of ECEC and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as the groups with the greatest immediate need for improved access to early childhood education and care.

To select the 31 undersupplied areas the supply and demand analysis also considered other ongoing capital investments that have an impact on supply, including the new 100 public preschools and capital grants previously awarded by the department, and other demographic variables, including socioeconomic disadvantage (SEIFA), accessibility and remoteness (ARIA), and children’s developmental progress (AEDC).

If you are not planning to build, renovate or extend in one of the 31 undersupplied area as listed in the Program Guidelines, or you are not an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation intending to deliver additional ECEC places in a community preschool or not-for-profit long day care setting in NSW, then you are not eligible to apply for the program.

Currently, there is insufficient access to quality ECEC to meet the needs of families, communities, and children in NSW. To ensure funding from this program goes where it is needed the most, this program will trial a targeted approach. This means that only applicants who plan to deliver ECEC places for priority groups as identified in the Program Guidelines will be eligible to apply for this trial.

The Fund will deliver multiple initiatives to respond with long term solutions to the most pressing needs of the ECEC sector, families and children and the program is just one of them one. We recommend you monitor the department’s website for any future funding initiatives that may suit your needs.

31 undersupplied areas have been selected through a rigorous supply and demand analysis that considered several factors, including the results from the Independent Market Monitoring Review, the impact of other ongoing capital initiatives, such as the 100 new public preschools, and socioeconomic disadvantage.

An SA2 is a Statistical Area determined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines list the SA2 of each undersupplied area. For assistance on how to determine the SA2 of your capital works site, please refer to the instructions in the application guide.

Please note that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) intending to deliver eligible ECEC places for 0-to-6-year-old children in community preschool or long day care setting can so do anywhere in NSW.

Please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines and Terms and Conditions for a list of elements which can and cannot be funded by the grant. You must allocate funding in addition to the nominated non-Board contribution for any elements that are not eligible under the program.

The Program funds capital works projects that result in additional licensed ECEC places for 0-to-6-year-olds for priority groups indentified in the Program Guidelines. As part of the works that will deliver these additional ECEC places, your project may also include elements of the build that enhance quality and best practice related to inclusion and cultural safety.

The program will not fund capital works projects that do not lead to an increase in licensed ECEC places or are not required for the purpose of obtaining service approval for the targeted number of places.

Refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines for a list of elements which can and cannot be funded by the grant.

A non-Board contribution refers to funding that comes from sources other than the program grant or any other funding provided by the Fund Board. Examples of non-Board contributions include funds from the approved provider, bank loans, and contributions made by third parties (e.g. other state, federal or local government grants, donations from private or public organisations, or in-kind services). Non-Board contributions nominated on the application must be used for the capital works project co-funded by the grant (i.e. for the building works and not for ineligible elements, such as the purchase of land or property).

Applicants are required to contribute a minimum amount of non-Board funding depending on the size of the approved provider, determined by the number of services they operate prior to applying to the grant. These non-Board funds are required to be spent prior to any grant funds in line with the program’s Terms and Conditions. Details of the expected non-Board contribution can be found in the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines.

The total cost of the project must factor in all expenses, including professional and project management fees, legal fees, builder and construction contingency, provider contingency and any other administrative costs related to the project.

To ensure you have reliable costing estimates, it is important that the total cost of the project is based on a quantity surveyor report and quotes prepared by a licensed building practitioner obtained in the past 4 months and valid at the time of submissin.

Total project expenses should match the total project income to demonstrate you have sourced enough funding to cover your project’s expenses.

While there is no limit on the grant amount you can request, value for money and cost per place are considered when assessing whether your project will be recommended for funding.

As per the program’s Terms and Conditions, any overruns or funding shortfalls are the responsibility of the approved provider. It is highly recommended that you include both construction and project contingency costs in your budget:

• Construction contingency refers to the sum set aside to cover any cost escalations and overruns related to the build. It is expected that the builder/construction contingency is included within the builder’s quote. Please also consider any escalations that may occur as a result of the lag between you submitting the application and the construction starting.
• Project contingency refers to the funding set aside by the applicant for other risks associated with the delivery of the capital works project, outside of construction or builder expenses. Examples may include unforeseen increases in project management and/or statutory fees.

A reasonable allowance for contingency can be included in the project budget submitted as part of your grant funding application. The department will then consider the circumstances giving rise to the need for accessing contingency to make a decision on its release. It is recommended to consider a minimum of 10% combined for construction and project contingency.

Applicants will first be required to meet any conditions attached to their grant award. Once this occurs, a Funding Agreement will be executed, which will include a project plan with milestones. Payments will be released as the delivery of the project progresses in line with the approved milestone project plan, and provided the Funding Agreement has been executed and evidence to demonstrate the achievement of the milestone has been submitted.

There is no benchmarks or recommended cost per place under the program, as these will vary depending on the type of project, location and other factors. However, the cost per place is used to inform the value for money of the project during stage 2 of the assessment. Cost per place is an element considered in the overall assessment process.

The department also considers a range of non-priced criteria, including socio-economic value and project readiness.

A range of supports are available to assist eligible organisations to prepare a grant application. Please visit the application resources and review the Project Development and Planning Support Procedure to determine your eligibility for individual support delivered by industry professionals. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations may also be able to access additional support from a sector strengthening partner.

To access Project Development and Planning Support, a provider must:

• meet all the eligibility requirements and objectives of the program
• agree to the Fund Board’s Terms of Use
• demonstrate intent and high-level ability to start the capital works project within 12 months of receiving an outcome letter under that program (e.g. you may outline whether you have secured land, funding to meet required co-contribution, support from landlord or other stakeholders, have had pre-DA meetings with Council, a site survey or other planning processes).

For further information, please refer the Project Development and Planning Support Procedure.

Projects that deliver inclusive and culturally safe learning environments will be highly regarded. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations intending to deliver additional ECEC places for 0 to-6-year-old children in community preschool or long day care settings, anywhere in NSW, will be able to apply for the Building Early Learning Places Program.

ACCOs applying for the program may be granted an exemption from the minimum non-Board contribution required as per the Building Early Learning Places Program Guidelines, and they can access up to 25 hours of one-to-one Project Development and Planning Support. ACCOs may also be able to access additional assistance provided by the department's existing sector strengthening partner. Please review the Project Development and Planning Support Procedure and Building Early Learning Places Program Guidelines for further information.

The department strongly encourages you to review the  Building Early Learning Places Fund Application Guide and additional resources provided on our website, including a number of pages that address these elements. You may also be eligible to access individual support from industry professionals under the Project Development and Planning Support.

Please contact capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au or via telephone on 1800 619 113 for further assistance.

At least one quantity surveyor estimate prepared by a licensed quantity surveyor and 2 builders quotes prepared by a licensed building practitioner are required. Quotes must be obtained in the 4 months prior to submitting the application and they must reflect the final design of the capital works project.

Applicants should contact the department if they are unable to obtain the required quotes.

No. Changes can only be made to an application at any time during the period that the application is opened for. Please note that once an application form is submitted on SmartyGrants, it cannot be edited. Late applications or late documents past the application close date will not be accepted, unless explicitly requested by the Fund Board.

Given the limited timeframe for application submission, applicants are not expected to run a full tender process to obtain the 2 builders quotes prepared by a licensed building practitioner and one Quantity Surveyor estimate by a licensed Quantity Surveyor. However, if it has been possible for applicants to run a tender process given their circumstances, they are strongly encouraged to attach that evidence to demonstrate their readiness to proceed and to support the proposed budget.

Please refer to the grants and funded programs webpage  for further information on opening and closing dates for the grant round.

All amounts listed on your application must exclude GST, including the grant amount being requested. If amounts inadvertently include GST, this will impact the priced assessment of your application, which is a key factor to determine the assessment outcome.

If you are successful, the Fund Board will pay for the GST relevant to your grant award when processing milestone payments for GST registered organisations.

If you have submitted your application in error prior to the closing date, you may retrieve and further edit your application from SmartyGrants by contacting the Sector Growth Team on  capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au or via telephone on 1800 619 113.

SmartyGrants is a user-friendly platform. You can view the help guide  for an explanation of the essential steps you need to take to complete and submit your application form.

Eligible applications will be competitively assessed by an Assessment Panel through a 3-stage evaluation process as outlined in the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines.

First, the Assessment Panel will review eligible applicants against non-priced assessment criteria (i.e. project readiness, financial readiness and socio-economic value). Those that meet these criteria will then be assessed based on the priced assessment criteria (i.e. cost per place). Finally, applications will be ranked based on their overall assessment score from the non-priced and priced criteria.

Applicants will receive updates on application assessment and approval timeframes as the process progresses. Timeframes may vary depending on the volume and complexity of applications received. Please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program guidelines for an estimated date for an announcement of outcomes.

Yes. Applications should show they have engaged or are planning to engage a suitable project manager to deliver the capital works project.

The name and contact details (i.e. email, telephone number, mobile number) of the proposed project manager must be included in the application (if known) and confirmed in the Funding Agreement.

For applications with a total project cost of $500,000 (ex GST) or above, applicants must provide evidence of their project manager’s qualifications and experience in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. Please note project management expenses can be funded by the grant as long as they are included as part of the endorsed application budget.

Capital works projects must be completed and acquitted within 24 months of receipt of a successful outcome letter.

Please note you are required to start construction within 12 months of receiving a successful outcome letter. If you do experience unexpected delays, please contact your assigned program coordinator as soon as possible.

Any requests for extension to the project timeframes will be considered by the Fund Board in accordance with the provisions in the funding agreement. At a high level, such requests will generally involve:

• the grant recipient contacting the department immediately upon identifying that they may not meet the timeframes for project delivery

• the grant recipient being required to provide detailed written evidence that explains the reason for the delay and demonstrates how the project will be completed within the additional time requested.

The grant recipient must note that timeframe extensions may not be approved, and that excessive delays may ultimately result in the department recommending withdrawal of the funding commitment to the relevant authority.

Yes. To claim the final milestone payment for grants provided under the program, the provider is required to show evidence that they have obtained, or at least applied for service approval and/or amendment to service approval for the new licensed ECEC places created as a result of the project.

For further information refer to the Service Approvals Policy (PDF 412 KB) visit the department's website or contact the department’s ECEC Regulatory Authority on 1800 619 113 (toll free) or by emailing ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.

Yes. All applicants must provide professional plans drawn up by a licensed building practitioner as part of their application to support the proposed increase in ECEC places. Before engaging a licensed building practitioner, please check their registration or accreditation with one of the following bodies:

• Architects – refer to NSW Architects Registration Board
• Landscape architects – refer to the Australian Institute of Landscape architects. Landscape architects can only prepare or certify plans and calculations for outdoor space under Regulation 108.
• Surveyor – refer to NSW Board of Surveying and Spatial Information
• Certifiers – refer to NSW Fair Trading NSW – Building Certifiers
• Building designers – refer to Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA).

Please refer the application guide and Architectural Plans and Regulatory compliance page for further information.

Applicants are required to seek professional advice to ensure their projects comply with all regulatory requirements imposed to ECEC centres by the Regulatory Authority and any other relevant agencies, including local and the NSW government. Although the below is not intended as an exhaustive list, applicants should consider the information provided in the resources below as a minimum when preparing their application:

• Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011 SI 653)
• Regulation 107: Space requirements – indoor space[DB1]
• Regulation 108: Space requirements – outdoor space
• Childcare Planning Guideline (PDF 21.3 MB)
• Guide to the NQF
• Application guide for New Service Applications (PDF 412 KB)

Applicants are required to own the land where the capital works is taking place, or alternatively have a 10-year license or lease for the capital works site. Applicants will be required to provide evidence to substantiate the land arrangement.

If you do not currently own the land or have a 10-year license or lease, but have other land arrangements you consider suitable, such as a lease for a shorter tenure and support from your lessor indicating you are a long-standing tenant, the Fund Board encourages you to provide such evidence in your application.

Please refer to the application guide for further details.